The eight financial mistakes to avoid in your 40s

Okay, it’s time to get serious. This decade is about setting you up for the latter half of your life

Time to get serious: if you’re in your 40s, you won’t be getting your State pension until you’re 68 – that’s three years later than your parents

Where did the time go? One minute you’re feeling forever young, the next you’re half-way to retirement.

When it comes to financial planning, if you’re in your 20s or 30s, time is still on your side; by the time you reach your 40s, saving the children’s allowance, or taking a punt on the stock market may not be enough to meet your pressing financial obligations such as school fees or college expenses.